Safety ski binding



Dec. 12, 1950 A. B. LANz SAFETY sx1 BINDING Filed June 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'/"m`3 17 A l l/ F/gj 20 1"- f4' f/ /a .ffw /2 l 2522 i 7E 1J f Dec. 12, 1950 A. B. LANz SAFETY sx1 BINDING Filed June l2, 1945 m x s m A T N E v I l Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 12, 1945, Serial No. 598,960 In Switzerland March 8, 1944 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires March 8, 1964 11 Claims.

Nearly all the leg fractures and knee and ankle sprains that happen to ski-runners are caused by the foot being gripped so 'tightly by the toe irons that in the event of a fall it is forced into a position in which the limit of articulation of knee or ankle, or the resistance of the leg bones, is exceeded. This in turn depends on the rigidity of the binding in relation to a rotation of the foot round a vertical axis. A fall caused by the skis crossing results in a more or less serious sprain, to say the least, only because the binding does not yield.

Suggestions have already been put forward for ski bindings expressly designed to avoid accidents due to falls. In these types of binding the toe irons are lixed on a plate which pivots on a baseplate. A spring presses the turnable plate against the base-plate and checks hold them loosely together. The resistance of a spring stop must be overcome before the pivoted plate can turn. The corresponding spring is lodged in a vertical cavity which is drilled in the ski and which is bound to weaken the ski itself, Moreover, a binding of this type is not suited for use with modern diagonal traction systems.

The present invention relates to a ski binding so designed as to be fastened to the ski Without in any way weakening the latter, while being suited for use with the most popular types of binding.

The invention consists in the toe-iron base, which is turnable in a horizontal plane, being iitted on a plane parallel to the foot plate and held fast in its normal position in such a way that, when a certain force is brought to bear on the binding the toe-iron base is released and the foot, at least as regards swivelling, freed from the ski. Neither toe-iron base nor base-plate has parts projecting downwards which must be countersunk into the wood of the ski.

The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, specic embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the rst embodiment along the line I-I in Fig, 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with binding swivelled outwards.

Fig. 4 is a section online IV--IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a corresponding section in alternative design.

Fig. 6 alternative cable guide on sole plate.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of toe-iron base of second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on line VIII- VIH in Fig. 7, but with the toe-'irons `and foot plate attached.

Fig. 9 is a section of the toe-iron base and the corresponding base plate on the line IX-IX in Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a section through X-X in Fig. 7.

Fig. 1l alternative design of Fig. 10.

Fig. l2 toe-iron base from below.

Fig. 13 section through retaining claw.

In the rst example base-plate 3 is screwed into a shallow hollow 2 in the upper part of ski I. On this base-plate is pivoted a disc 4 which is centered by means of a hole on central collar 5 of base-plate 3 which it embraces with its downward projecting rim 6 thus also rendering the construction more sturdy. Two ball checks 1 are lodged in two holes in swivel-plate 4 and pressed by leaf spring 8 against corresponding seats 9 in base-plate 3. The pressure of the spring on the ball checks can be adjusted by the action of regulator screw I0 engaging internally threaded collar 5 and two adjustment screws I I screwed into threaded holes on opposite sides of swivelplate 4. Two toothed jaws I2 are placed opposite each other, the teeth I2 of which engage with corresponding toothed segments I3' of toeirons I3. Cover plate I4 is fastened by easily loosened screws I5 and I6 to swivel-plate 4 and secures the toe irons in place. To the cover plate I4 there is articulated by means of hinge I'I sole plate I 8 that is stiffened underneath by reinforcing plate I8. Sole plate I8 has on each side hooks I9 the plate also being provided with a pair of spurs 2B protruding at the rear a certain distance apart, and in each of these latter is lodged a ball check 2I projecting upwards. Bearer plate 22 is fixed to ski I behind sole plate I8 which it holds down with the help of two slender catches 23 that engage with spurs 28 as long as sole plate I8 remains in its normal position. The head of central regulating screw I8 has deep notches 24 in its rim in which the easily loosened stop screw 25 engages, thus maintaining regulating screw I0 in its predetermined position. In the alternative `design (Fig. 5), spurs 20 and retention catches 23 have convex adjacent surfaces to allow sole plate i8 to rise as soon as it begins to swivel with toe-iron base 4. Base plate 3 and swivel plate 4 are cut off flush with the ski edges so that they do not project laterally beyond them. Pins I9' are fitted out of alignment with respect to hooks I9 and serve to maintain diagonal traction cable 26 in position in the hooks. Since cable 26 runs over these retention pins I9', the latter may be aixed to the ski itself. Diagonal traction hooks I9, being themselves affixed to sole plate I8 allow cable 26 to 3 follow the movement of the binding when this swivels outwards (see Fig. 3),

In the middle of hinge Il there is a gap Whose width corresponds to that of leaf spring 8, so that the 'latter is guided'by theinner edges of the hinge. The pressure of leaf spring 8 is set by adjustment screws I l and can afterwards be precisely regulated as required with the help of central regulating screw lil. It is preferable to cast the various parts of the binding in a light-metal such as avicnal. l

According to the modieation shown in Fig. 6, at least one hook ita for guidingdiagonal traction cable 2S can be fitted on each V'side of sole plate I8. In order to prevent these 'hooks Yfrom colliding with the upper edges of the skiwhentlie binding swivels, they are only 2-3 mm. long. As such short hooks would not suiilce to hold 'theV cable in place during actual skiing, a stop lb bentupwards and outwards is affixed toea'chzside of thefskibeneath eachiofthe hooks ft-iid. .Asflong as the safety binding lies in its normal position, cable 126 is lodged betweenhooks 19a and stops |91). When the binding. swivels `and -sole plate I8 is released to Imove both vertically and hori Zontally, the diagonal traction cable which according yto Fig,6is'di`sposed between the parts I9a and lgb, is .released in the same manner for movement both in'a horizontal and in a'vertical direction.

-The secondmodel of the safety binding lhasa baseplatej-Elscrewed on to the ski. Underneath toe-iron base fis solidlylvxed a'truncated cone 29'Which engagesin a corresponding Vcavity@ in base-'..plate 2l andhas the function of providing a vvertical pivot around which toe-iron base 28 can rotate. .The toe-irons consist-of a :pair of L-shaped members 32, 32 each comprising `an upright jaw portion'32 anda horizontal portion 32 whoseend edges are'toothed for engagement with teeth 3l of the plate 23 forming part oi' base 23, and can be loosened or tightened .by meansof screws operating in -threadedholes t3 of plate V28. .Foot plate 34 Iis screwed onto plate 28V oftoe-iron base 2! and covers toothed base 28, 28" of toe'irons 32.

Toe-irons base 23 is maintained in its central (normal) position bymeans cia spring check. This Ais formed -by ball .ll partially yprotruding downwards throughfconioal apertureV t5 in toeirons base 23 into seat 3l drilled in bushing di? fitted in base-plate .2?. Cylinder S9 on toe-iron base2.8 directly above conical seat Se of ball check 36 holds spiral spring d@ which presses down wall 36. This pressure can be regulated by means of screw fil 'as reqired. It is indicated bythe position of pointer i3 or 'd3' of screw il on .graduated scale engraved on cylinder 39. VIn base-plate 2l there areYV arcuate grooves Y.23 concentric with conical cavity YSt. Guide projections t5 fixe-dto the under side of toe-.iron base extend into the arcuate grooves da.. V/'hen the toe-ironbase liesY normal position, while at the same time a rota- Y4. i tion of a few millimetres suices to free it. The axis of arcuate grooves 44 passes through the centre of seat 3l, so that ball 36 on leaving its seat engages in adjacent groove 44. In Fig. '7 the swivelled position in which toe-iron base 28 is freed from'base-'plate 2l isindicatedby dot-dash lines.

Front and rear rims of toe-iron base 28 (see Fig. 13) should be shaped to prevent the plate from `catching under retention claws il Vwhile vswivelling. For this purpose toe-iron base 28 is fitted with thickening rib 28. Moreover, its rims Yare rounded cif so that ribs Z are not retained Vby -claws '1l-'i during swivelling.

The safety binding aboveV described functions Y as follows: 'Swivelling of toe-iron base 28 to free position. is only possible after resistance of ball check'' in seat 3l has been overcome. This resistance is so adjusted by screw tl in proportion tothe -individnal skiers weight and buildtli'athe can performall kinds of turns without-danger of swivelling toe-iron base 28, while atthe Sametime checked-3l is released before the limitof resistanceofbon'esor articulations `is reached. Afl'reeing-of toe-iron base `28 from ski after swivelling is facilitated by the convexor oblique faces of parts it andfdl (see Figs. Vlllfand l1), as well as by cone 29 forming the pivot. After swivelling toe-iron-base '23, and with it is completely freed from theski.

While the form of embodiment ofthe invention as herein disclosed, constitutesa Vpreferred eX- ample, it is to'be understood vthat saine changes maybe made in the arrangement, construction and combination`v ofthe various parts of-my invention-and itis mylintention to cover by my claims such changes as' may reasonably be included within the scope thereof. Y

I claim as my invention:

1. In ski'binding assemblies, ajtoe-iron assemblage and a base plate having its under face Y planar andsecured and Vsupported by a complemental faceeof the ski, a mounting between `the toe-iron assemblage andthe base plate, said mounting Vcomprising vertical swivelling pivot and complement'al Vseat means in said toe-iron assemblage and said baseV plate, said mounting being "located wholly above the bottom plane of the base plate, Vand adjustable means normally retaihingthe toe-iron assemblage'against swivelling activity, Ysaid means Vbeing active to estabish a predetermined resistance'ag'ainst swivel'- linfi' and being yieldable under abnormalrlateral by the toe-iron assemblage normallymaintains VAa definite relation betweenltheboot of the-user Y cal depth co-operative with a complemental seat formed in the base plate, the axis` of said blage.

e. VAn assembly as in claim 8" characterizedin the whole binding,V

ees actin;T on the toe-iron assemblage, Wherethat the toe-iron assemblage carries normally active, yieldable means cooperative with a complemental seat carried by the base plate and positioned remote from the swivelling axis, said means being operative to normally maintain the assemblage against swivelling activity and yieldable in presence of abnormal lateral forces to permit swivelling activity.

5. An assembly as in claim 4 characterized in that the means is in the form of a spring supported ball with the spring controllably adjus-table as to its tension value.

6. An assembly as in claim 5 characterized in that the upper face of the base plate carries arcuate Ways symmetrically disposed relative to the swiveiling axis, with one of said ways positioned to form a travel path for the ball during swivelling activity, the toe-iron assemblage carrying additional members cooperative With the ways in the control of the swivelling action and to normally form closures for the ways to prevent the entrance of snow into the Ways,

7. An assembly as in claim 1, the mounting between the tee-iron assemblage and the base plate comprising means to permit swivelling activity within a limited arcuate range and complete separation of assemblage plate in presence of an excess range of movement in the direction of svvivelling activity, said toe-iron assemblage including spaced tongues adapted to cooperate with complemental spaced claws carried by the base plate for normally retaining the assemblage and base plate against separation with the claw length determining the length of the limited range of swivelling action, the spacing of the claws permitting such separation by ending the claw restraint when the range limit of swivelling action has been reached.

8. An assembly as in claim 7 characterized in that the co-operating faces of a tongue and its claw are relatively formed to retain the assemblage and base plate rmly held against separation when the tongues are in a predetermined normal position, said faces permitting gradual lessening of such firmness during swivelling activity development and continuance.

9. An assembly as in claim 1 characterized in that the toe-iron assemblage includes a toe plate carrying the swivelling pivot means, and a sole plate hingedly connected thereto in rear of such pivot means, said sole-plate carrying rearwardlyextending spurs cooperative with a bearer plate carried by the ski to retain the sole plate in a normal rm position, the bearing plate and tongues having complemental means for maintaining the iirm condition in the absence of swivelling action with the means operative to permit gradual rise of the sole plate during swivelling activity.

10. An assembly as in claim 9 characterized in that the adjustable means for producing resistance to swivelling activity is in the form of a spring extending in fore and aft direction in intersecting relation to the swivelling axis, said spring being adiustable as to tension and having a length to extend across the hinging axis of the toe and sole plate connection to thereby render the spring active With respect to both toe and sole plates.

11. An assembly as in claim 10 characterized in that the sole plate additionally carries side hooks cooperative with diagonal traction. cable elements, said sole plate and its 'tongues and side hooks together with the cable elements being bodily sWingable with the toe-plate during swivelling activity.

ADRIAN BERCHTOLD LANZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTs Number Name Date 2,144,021 Kiener Jan. l'i, 1939 2,233,856 Tappe Mar. 4, 1941 2,864,620 Crocker et al. Dec. 12, 1944 2,383,064 Lanz Aug. 21, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 242,280 Switzerland Jan. 31, 1950 846,997 France June 19, 1939 

